About NAPO

The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) is a coalition of police unions and associations from across the United States and was organized for the purpose of advancing the interests of America’s law enforcement officers through legislative advocacy, political action and education.

Founded in 1978, NAPO is the strongest unified voice supporting law enforcement officers in the United States. NAPO represents more than 1,000 police units and associations, and more than 241,000 sworn law enforcement officers who share a common dedication to vigorous and effective representation on behalf of our nation’s law enforcement officers.

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Flag Ceremonyat NAPO's 38thAnnual Convention

BEFORE the Ambush Killing of Two Iowa Officers, NAPO Called on the Attorney General to Act to Protect Officers

In August – over a year after the passage of the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015 – NAPO sent a letter rebuking the Attorney General for not taking action to implement the National Blue Alert Network. After a year of delays and inaction, the Network is still not functional and the Department of Justice (DOJ) is only now gathering data on state-run blue alert systems. The DOJ must wake up and follow this vital law passed by Congress at NAPO’s urging before any more officers succumb to attacks that could have been avoided.

Further, NAPO has been urging the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) within the DOJ to prioritize for funding recipients who will institute a policy of two person units for all patrol shifts and patrol assignments rather than focusing its grants "procedural justice", "police legitimacy" and "collaborative reform" programs.

While putting two officers in each patrol car, on each beat, etc., will not prevent all attacks, as the assassination of Officers Ramos and Liu in New York City makes clear, it will deter many and thwart others that might still be attempted. NAPO has made clear to the Attorney General and DOJ officials that the federal funds earmarked for state and local police use cannot be put to any better use than this immediate and practical way of ensuring greater officer safety and survivability in the face of an escalating war on police.

The DOJ must put as much effort and initiative into saving officers' lives as it does in investigating and prosecuting them. Actions speak louder than words and while the Attorney General condemns these senseless killings of officers, she has not actively supported taking practical steps to ensure officer safety.

Please see our letter to the Attorney General and use it as a basis to write your own. It is imperative that the National Blue Alert Network be up and running as soon as possible and that the DOJ puts its money where its mouth is and supports funding for state and local law enforcement agencies to increase their staff to ensure no officer goes on a call alone.

NAPO will continue to push for federal support to ensure that police departments are sufficiently staffed to keep their officers and their communities safe. Agencies that prioritize officer safety and the practice of two-officer response should be recognized and supported by the federal government.

NAPO's National President Michael McHale and Executive Director William Johnson issued the following statement in response to IACP President Terrence Cunningham's collective apology for American police:

"We are extremely disappointed to see such a poorly thought-out statement. NAPO stands for the notion of individual responsibility, not collective guilt. Such appeasement of the violent anti-police movement is just one more nail in the coffin of American law enforcement. The people who support American police officers aren't looking for an apology. And for the people who hate the police it won't make any difference."

NAPO Participates in Press Conference Calling for Action on the Thin Blue Line Act

NAPO’s President, Mick McHale, Executive Director, Bill Johnson, elected officers and executive board members joined Representatives David Jolly (R-FL), Rich Nugent (R-FL) and several other Members of Congress outside the U.S. Capitol on May 13th, to call for the passage of the Thin Blue Line Act.

“There is a serious and growing trend of armed attacks on law enforcement officers just because of the uniform they wear. Tepid responses to the murders of police officers do nothing to discourage future attacks, which is why the Thin Blue Line Act is so important,” stated Mick McHale. “Establishing stricter penalties for those who harm law enforcement officers will deter violence against officers and help keep communities safe, which is why it is vital that Congress pass this legislation.”

Representative Jolly’s Thin Blue Line Act (H.R. 814) currently has 48 cosponsors in the House and its companion bill in the Senate (S. 2034), sponsored by Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) has 23 cosponsors.

The Thin Blue Line Act would make the murder of a police officer, firefighter, or first responder an aggravating factor in death penalty determinations and would be applicable whether the person is murdered on duty, because of the performance of their duty, or because of their status as a public official. It covers every police officer whether federal, state, or local as well as any firefighter or first responder. The only requirement is that the homicide provides federal jurisdiction. This includes the following:

An officer, deputy, firefighter, first responder killed on federal land

The Thin Blue Line Act is a priority for NAPO and we will continue to work with Representative Jolly and Senator Toomey to pass this important legislation. If you have any questions about this bill, please contact Andy Edmiston at aedmiston@napo.org.